This article was co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. Ryan Corrigan is a Licensed Veterinary Technician in California. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University in 2010. She is also a Member of the Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians since 2011.

There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Before you look into training programs for your dog, assess what kind of training your dog needs first. You can find affordable training programs by asking your vet for a referral, contacting your local animal shelter or pet supply store, or by visiting your local humane society’s website. Once you have identified a program, sit-in on of the classes to make sure the trainer meets your expectations in terms of qualifications and training methods.

Select a puppy training program. Select this program if your dog is between two and five months old. The socialization skills that will be developed during these programs are name recognition, recalls, how to walk on a leash, and commands, such as sit, down, stay, stand, and leave-it. In addition to socialization, these programs will also cover house-breaking, chewing, biting, digging, and barking.[1]XResearch source

You will need to attend these classes with your puppy. Training for owners usually includes learning how to properly reinforce positive behaviors.

You may need to provide proof that your puppy is up to date on all its vaccinations.

Choose a basic obedience class. If your dog is older than five months, choose a basic obedience class. These classes improve upon learning techniques that were taught in the puppy class. Instructors continue to reinforce basic commands, like sit, stay, down, come, and heel.[2]XResearch source

If your dog has never taken a training class before, you can find classes that will give your adult dog basic training.[3]XResearch source

Pick an advanced obedience class. These classes are for adult dogs that have taken and mastered basic training classes. These classes are designed to work on response time, greeting company, self-control, obedience in complex situations with distractions, and teaching your dog to come from a distance when called, i.e., off-leash training.[4]XResearch source

Place your dog in a specialized training program. There are training programs that are designed to address problematic behavior in dogs, for example, if your dog is overly fearful or aggressive. Additionally, there are specialized programs that will train your dog to be a therapy dog or a search and rescue dog.[5]XResearch source

There are also programs that train dogs in fieldwork, or in agility, i.e., if you want your dog to compete in dog competitions.

You can also sign your dog up for fun specialized training programs that offer agility obstacles and games.

Know the typical costs. Group classes at a pet store, doggy day care, or community center that take place over a four to eight week period usually range from $40 to $125. The price of private classes with a trainer usually ranges from $30 to $100 per hour, or $240 to $600 for six sessions.[6]XResearch source

The most expensive option is sending your dog to a dog obedience boarding school. The dog lives at a boarding kennel or at the trainer’s home for two to four weeks of training. The cost of boarding school ranges from $950 to $2,500 or more.

Puppy classes typically cost less than adult classes.

Additionally, the trainer might require you to buy training aids, such as dog treats, clickers, noisemakers, and leashes. Combined, training aids usually cost $50 or less.

Consult your vet. Contact your veterinarian and ask for a referral. Let your veterinarian know that you are looking for affordable programs. You can also ask your vet what kind of training your dog’s breed needs.

You can say, “Hi Jan. I am on a budget right now, and I am looking into affordable training programs for my dog. Do you recommend any programs or centers that provide training resources? Also, what kind of training do you recommend for my dog’s breed?”

Asking your vet is a great way to find training programs that are ethical and reputable.

You can also ask friends and family members who are dog owners for recommendations on good dog training programs.

Go to your local animal shelter. Local animal shelters offer affordable training programs, particularly if you adopted your dog from the shelter. If you adopted your dog from the shelter, they will either offer discounted rates or training programs for free.[7]XResearch source

Visit the website of your local humane society. Your local humane society website probably offers a search feature for local trainers. Additionally, the American Kennel Club provides a state-by-state search for clubs that offer dog training classes, as well as resources.[8]XResearch source

Train your dog yourself. One of the cheapest options is to train your dog yourself. However, it will take time and effort. You can buy dog-training books for $30 and under online or at your local bookstore. These books will teach you how to train your dog.[10]XResearch source

You can also look up dog-training videos on YouTube to supplement the training provided by the books.

Determine their education and experience. Government agencies dedicated to regulating and licensing dog trainers do not exist. Therefore, your top priority when looking into programs is to assess the trainer’s experience and qualifications. Find out how many years of experience they have training, and how they were educated.[11]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source

The trainer should have at least one to two years of work experience training dogs.

Determine if the trainer worked as an apprentice, has some kind of certification from a dog training program, or has a degree from a college or university in animal behavior.[12]XResearch source

Additionally, ask the trainer if they can provide you with their clients’ contact information so you can assess the quality of their program.

Observe how the trainer interacts with dogs. Pick a dog trainer that uses humane training techniques. Humane training techniques are techniques that encourage appropriate behavior through positive reinforcement, such as food, play, attention, or praise.[13]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source

Training techniques should never include yelling, shaking the scruff, choking, hitting, tugging on the leash, forcing the dog on its back, and other actions that inflict pain or frighten the dog.[14]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source

Ask the trainer if you can sit-in on one of their training classes before you sign up.

If the trainer makes you uncomfortable, you should look for a different trainer to work with your dog.

Avoid working with trainers that won't let you sit in on a session and watch them teach. Trainers that are confident in their approach will want people to watch them teach.

Assess the class structure. Assess the size of the classes. The classes should be small classes that allow the trainer to provide individual attention and guidance for you and your dog. Also, make sure there are separate classes for puppies and adult dogs.[15]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source

Instructors should also provide handouts that outline the trainer’s lesson plans and methods of training.

Instructors should encourage other family members to participate in training, as well.

All dogs should be required to have their basic vaccinations before entering a program.

Don't sacrifice quality for cost. If you find a low-cost training program, but are unsure about its quality, keep searching. People who place their dogs in a low-quality training program usually find themselves in a situation where they have to spend more money on re-training their dog.[16]XResearch source

If you are uncomfortable asking the trainer questions, or the trainer does not communicate effectively, keep searching for other programs.

If your dog does not respond well to a certain method, the trainer should be willing to use other methods to train your dog. If not, choose a different program.

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. Ryan Corrigan is a Licensed Veterinary Technician in California. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University in 2010. She is also a Member of the Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians since 2011.

To find low cost dog training, ask your vet for referrals to affordable programs that will address your dog’s specific needs. You can also call around to find out what the cost is for group classes at a pet store, doggy day care, or community center. Often, local animal shelters will offer affordable training programs, particularly if you adopted your dog from their shelter, so contact them about options as well. If you can’t find an option that works for your budget, buy dog-training books or look up dog-training videos on YouTube and train your dog yourself. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to identify a qualified trainer, keep reading!